September 11, 2012 - Accor, the
largest international hotel operator in Asia-Pacific, today revealed
that it now operates over 100,000 rooms in the region, with the opening
of ibis Hong Kong Central and Sheung Wan. Accor Asia-Pacific Chairman
and Chief Operating Officer Michael Issenberg announced the milestone
at the 2012 Economy Hotels World Asia conference in Singapore,
reaffirming the Group’s growth strategy for Asia-Pacific. Mr. Issenberg
also revealed the findings of Accor’s Asia Economy Hotels Research
2012, which seeks to better understand attitudinal differences between
travellers staying at economy hotels.
“The Asia-Pacific region is one of Accor’s strategic growth markets,
and I congratulate the regional team and our partners on passing the
key milestone of 100,000 rooms in the region,” commented Denis
Hennequin, Accor’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Asia-Pacific
presents tremendous opportunities for expansion, given the region’s
dynamic economic development and rapidly growing middle class leading
to many more people travelling today than ever before. We are committed
to offering our customers more choice in consistently high quality
accommodation in the region.”
Speaking at the 2012 Economy Hotels World Asia conference in Singapore,
Mr. Issenberg said, “Today, Accor operates 536 hotels in 16 countries
in Asia-Pacific and is the market leader in Australia, New Zealand,
Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam. I am proud to announce
that Accor’s network has grown beyond 100,000 rooms in Asia-Pacific,
with the opening of ibis Hong Kong Central and Sheung Wan. It is only
fitting that we celebrate this milestone at this hotel, which
represents a new flagship for the ibis brand in the region and
emphasizes our commitment to offering our customers an exceptional
economy hotel product.”
The growing demand for international-standard, value-for-money economy
hotels led Accor to commission the Asia Economy Hotels Research 2012,
the findings of which Mr. Issenberg also revealed at the same
conference. The study surveyed business and leisure travellers from
eight key markets in Asia to gather insights into the differing
attitudes towards economy hotels.
According to the research, six in ten travellers in Asia prefer
international economy hotel brands to domestic brands and assign
different “personalities” to them. International brands were considered
“stylish, high-class, reliable, attractive and energetic” compared to
domestic brands, which tended to be viewed as “down-to-earth,
practical, approachable, and considerate.”
“The Asia Economy Hotels Research will help us better understand what
our guests expect of our economy hotel brands. For example, we learned
that guests are willing to spend more per night to stay at an
international over a domestic brand economy hotel – in some markets
nearly 90 percent more,” said Mr. Issenberg. “However, we also learned
that they trust our brands to deliver more value for money – in terms
of professionalism, comfort and amenities. We are now analyzing the
findings to see how we can better live up to the expectations of
travellers in each of our different markets, but early indications
suggest we are on the right track with our ibis family of brands.”
The ibis brand family covers Accor’s economy and budget offering and
consists of three complementary brands – ibis, ibis Styles (formerly
all Seasons) and ibis budget (formerly Formule 1) – each with its own
personality. The ibis hotel offer is characterized by service and the
best level of comfort in the economy segment, providing well-being at
great price. Ibis Styles assures comfort and unique designs at an
all-inclusive price. Ibis budget offers travellers essential comfort
modestly priced. Today, Accor operates 179 ibis brand family hotels in
Asia-Pacific, including 113 ibis, 42 ibis Styles and 24 ibis budget
properties.
About ibis Hong Kong Central
& Sheung Wan
The 550-room ibis Hong Kong Central and Sheung Wan highlights a
vibrant, new direction for the ibis brand, designed to appeal to the
growing number of independent leisure travellers in the region. Located
in the heart of one of Hong Kong’s most bustling commercial and
nightlife districts, the hotel is just a short walk from Sheung Wan MTR
station and Macau Ferry terminal, and boasts convenient links to Hong
Kong International Airport, via the Airport Express and airport buses.
The hotel is one of the first properties in Asia to feature the new
ibis brand identity, which is being rolled out globally.
Bright, fresh design is complemented by a young and energetic team, who
will deliver all the essential services of a modern hotel, around the
clock. The hotel offers a full eight hours of breakfast service,
beginning at 4:30 a.m., a 24-hour bar and complimentary Wi-Fi Internet
throughout the property. In addition, a 15-minute satisfaction promise
is given to all customers for requests they make through the front desk.
Travellers keen on exploring their destination will discover Hong
Kong’s unique heritage right on their doorstep. The hotel is ideally
situated in Sheung Wan, where heritage blends with bustling new
enterprise. Streets filled with dry seafood stalls sit next to hip
coffee shops. Historic sites include Man Mo Temple; Possession Point,
where British fleets first landed in Hong Kong; as well as the
neighbourhood’s elegant cafes and bars on nearby Hollywood Road. The
restaurants and lively nightlife of Central’s Soho district is also
just a short walk away.
About Accor
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator
and market leader in Europe, is present in 92 countries with more than
4,400 hotels and 530,000 rooms. Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands
- Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio,
ibis, all seasons/ibis Styles, Etap Hotel/Formule 1/ibis budget,
hotelF1 and Motel 6 - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget.
With more than 180,000 employees* in Accor brand hotels worldwide, the
Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how
and expertise.
*Including 145,000 in owned, leased and managed hotels